19/09/08 - A different kind of Tourism.

One last day in the mountains and for once our view is spoiled by mist
and clouds - sort of makes you thankful for all the great weather we
have had.

We did drive up to the village of Cauteret which is the setting off
point for lots of walks in the French Pyrenees National Park, though
we didn't venture much further. We took a walk through the cute town
where we found a street market in process and the local delicacy -
Foie Gras. Made of goose liver, where the geese have been force fed
to ensure an en-larged fatty liver - charming. The taste was ....
interesting, and we did manage to eat all of the tiny expensive can
that we bought - with the help of some fresh local pain (bread) and
fromage (cheese) du Pyrenees. Yum!

Then it was down the valley to Lourdes. Lourdes was just another
sleepy village until 1858 when a young woman - Bernadette saw a series
of apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Since then Lourdes has become an
important pilgrim place where the faithful and especially the sick
come to take the waters and seek their own miracle.

It felt quite weird walking the streets of souvenir shops, as the
tourists around us were definitely a different breed to what we had
been used to on this trip. Some of the souvenirs were rather
interesting too - 5 or 10 litre plastic containers so you can take
some of the holy water home??

The weather was slightly sunnier down in Lourdes so the first stop was
a funicular up the Pic de Jer for a 360° of the town and surrounds.
We enjoyed the 1 hour walk back to the carpark then headed into town.

Our next destination was the Grotto and sanctuary which has been built
up around the original place of Bernadette Soubains' first apparitions
in 1858. After taking in the grotto and lighting a candle for absent
family and friends we enjoyed a walk around the area that has been all
set up for the 150th jubilee celebrations that go on throughout the
year - we just missed the pope's visit by 4 days (probably a good
thing considering the crowds I could imagine).

By now it was late and we were too tired to drive on so we parked up
with all the other campers at a supermarket in Lourdes.